Objective
RECONNECT starts from the observation that the European Union (EU) and the Member States are confronted with an existential crisis of the entire European project. As a result of several successive crises an increasingly large share of the population perceives the EU as an undemocratic and unjust political system. Overall trust in institutions at both Union and Member State levels is waning, while ever louder calls for a repatriation of powers to the national level are shaking the EU to its core. Against this background, our underlying assumption is that the deeply diverse and pluralistic Union of today needs to be more firmly rooted in justice and solidarity in order to be sustainable. Our working hypothesis is that European governance can regain authority and legitimacy through democracy and the rule of law, provided citizens’ aspirations and preferences are duly taken into account. This will allow for a renewed trust and recognition of the EU as a policy-provider that acts with a view to genuinely establishing a “society in which … justice [and] solidarity … prevail”, as Art. 2 TEU requires. With a unique multidisciplinary consortium of researchers, we analyse the existential challenges to the EU’s authority and legitimacy, through a comprehensive examination of principles, practices, and perceptions of democracy and the rule of law in the EU. Our end-user approach enables us to point to how democratic and rule of law principles and practices of institutions resonate with the actual aspirations, perceptions and preferences of citizens. Our ultimate objective is to contribute to a new comprehensive narrative for Europe that “reconnects” European governance with citizens. By means of an effective impact and dissemination strategy and through tailor-made policy recommendations and proposals for Treaty changes, RECONNECT will strengthen the EU’s normative foundations.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.6. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Europe In A Changing World - Inclusive, Innovative And Reflective Societies Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.6.1.2. - Trusted organisations, practices, services and policies that are necessary to build resilient, inclusive, participatory, open and creative societies in Europe, in particular taking into account migration, integration and demographic change
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
3000 Leuven
Belgium
See on map
Participants (17)
NW4 4BT London
See on map
7491 Trondheim
See on map
28006 Madrid
See on map
WC1B 5JP London
See on map
1051 Budapest
See on map
116 36 Praha 1
See on map
9712CP Groningen
See on map
59016 Lille Cedex
See on map
48149 MUENSTER
See on map
4610101 Herzliya
See on map
1010 Wien
See on map
1081 HV Amsterdam
See on map
00198 Roma
See on map
80-309 GDANSK
See on map
00014 HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO
See on map
CB2 1TN Cambridge
See on map
20500 Abo
See on map